Automatic vacuum breaker



Feb. 12, 1946. D. G. GRlswoLD AUTOMATIC VACUUM BlEAKER Filed Sept. 9,1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 alald @Palm/ald Patented Feb. 12, 1946 j s of the'present :dia-

phrag'm'i's that it includes a button integrally formed therewith o'fsuch 'shapeand configuration if'nitrating into and through the phrag'mand causing leakage.`

` Donald G. GriSwoldjAlhambra, Calif.;l a'ssgnorftov 'l 4 Clayton@Manufacturing- Company, Alharnbla,rv`v

Calin, a corporation of'fCalifornia Afppiieeinen september 9, '194:i,"seiria1n9.501,701 i, '4 claims.VJ (ci. 1er-'153) *i The present'invention relates to novel'vmeided diaphragm' s triuture. adapted` ,forgeneral'use in y One of the novel featur' as tojcooperate` with anannular seat'to effect quiet l sealing and thus eliminate" tlre' `usua1-noise and cl'iatteringv commonly encountered with conventionalidiaphragmstructures;

Anotherjfeature of the,A diaphragm is that' the body and button may' be.reinforced kwith` fabric,

if desired; and madeof rubber or neoprene having a prec ietermineci,`desired Shore scler'o'scope lharclness.v In certain' instances, thejmainy body portion of the diaphra'gmmaybe ymade of neoprene or Arubberof onehardness and the fbutton vof another hardness. l

A'For the purpose of illust of thevpresent diaphragm for yvarioususes','the same'is disclosed herein in connectionwith an 'automaticcheckvalve landf'with an automatic vacuum orssiphon breaker. Oneofthe'principal "advantagesof the lpresent diaphragm in "valve structuresisthat it eliminates" the usual' valve stem; clampingplates, valve sternguides, etc.; and,

' being devoid oftheusual valve'stem opening, it Y eliminates thediiiiculties encountered inconvenvtional valves when lused with, forexample, high air pressures,y because it prevents the air from'nbody o fthe` dia The principal object" of iheiiiveritigon 'is tiefpregeneral usevin valves, etc.;V wherein' the diaphragm 4 l includes a portion whichdirectly engages a seat dv the opening and cooperates with" saidseat-,fan

therein 'to-produce quiet operation;- Another object of theinvention isto provide ari improved automatic vacuum :or siphonfbreakerembodying'the novel diaphragm'of the 4lziresentinvvention adapted toprevent contamination orjp'ollution of water supply systems.' 1Otherobjects and advantages of theinvention A will beapparcnt'fromtheffollowinjdescription.

taken in conjunction'with"-the accompanying drawingain which: J v aFigure 1 is an enlarged'elevatinal view of aprinciplessof-theinventioni1 .e v-

Figure 2 is alongitudinal section'alvewfthrough I diaphragm constructedin accor-dane'el `Wim-11th@ lanautomatic checkA valve containing'adiaphragm vsuch as A shown in Figure 1; x v

Figures 3-, 4- andy5 are: diagrammatic vievifsil-mv l Y lustrating `thenovel coaction r between the dia#- fitting]'dieadaptability 2o i on theune 1+i of Figure 6; 1o

i phianr l-lnitton andy -anmannular seat during the ydcwriwardilexingvoif the diaphragmjand where- ,by chattering, squealing`andother; noises incident toclosingare eliminated;

,Figure v6 is an elevational viewpf an automatic Siphon breakerincluding a diaphragm embodying the principles of the present invention;i.'

Figure 7 is a `transverse sectional view taken Figure 28 isadiagrammatic jView` illustrating o the manner in "which thesiphonbreaker shown in Figures and' may be installed in a ppesystem"isiphonving: vand i5' a house or Vother building t o prevent .back-Fi'gure 9v isa view similar to Figure but )showingf QI'nQdied pipingrinstallation.

Referring now'to Fig. 1, thediaphragm isgenerally indicatedfby theletter D and includes a circular body-portion [provided with a relative-"ly thick, integral, central button .2 consisting of circular` boss Sanda 'circular protuberance or mound ,4 formed upon said boss.'Ihethickness of fthe body portion` lj is' indicated by the letter K andthe thickness ef the, bess a is indie-atei; by 'the csi dimension3K'inas`much as said boss. is approximately three tunes as thiekasthebodypprtien i. Theperipherypfthe boss 3 visinerged.with Ithe 'iF-"bodyportionjl alongan arc'defindby @radius R whiclrisfequal to 3K, thevaxial thickness offsaid 30 boss: The protuberanceor mound 4is'i'ndicated as having ath'iekness 2K; that is, ,aboutitwiee as themounds; indicated bythejdimension Kgcenvide a moldedfdiaphragmstructure- 'adaptedior stituts a cylindrical portion`v 5, whereas ,thremainder o fiheperipneryef the mound 4 is curved *upon an arc C yhavingaradius Rf equal to the dimensionA The lower sidejof the mound 'l is'nat-asJ indicated atj, butin'stead of. being `rfxzuide i A iiat,ycertain advantages AinV ow canib obtained if the arcR' at thecornerofthe vmound is'mer'ged to the horizontal as indicated by thevdomandidesir 'I linesfsothat the mound then takes theiirnrof a f `rfiatvcorie-'I v'having aroundedpeak Vstruckgon a ls'cleroscope hardness f6'0 .t o [892 "Neoprene is if preferred toy rubberY becauseit Wll notkstick.. to

a' brassfse'at; whereas ri 1i; l:hery as itfages, has a -tendeneytefdoser The body] Lend the" button 2 I 55 t0.. For certain. Smau-Valves;the; body portion ness of 60, as measured by the Shore scleroscope.

For larger types of valves, the' body I will have' a hardness of about60 and the button 2 will have a. hardness of about80. f course, the bodyI may be made of a hardness rangingfrom 60 to.80, as may also thevbutton2. The foregoing range of Shore scleroscope hardness of 60 to 80provides a diaphragm structure ofV the desired ilexibilityconducive tothe mode of coaction with a cooperating seat described hereinafter.

Figure 2 shows the manner in which the dia phragm D may be incorporatedin an automatic check valve. lIhe check valve is 'generally indicated bythe numeral 9 and includes a body III having an inlet opening Il and anoutlet opening l2 separated by a partition wall including a verticalportion I3 and an inclined wall portion I4 which are merged to provide acircular opening I5 between the chambers II and l2. 'I'he opening I5 issurrounded by an upwardly projecting flange I6, the upper annularsurface I1 of which forms a seat cooperable with the button 2 of thediaphragm D. The surface I1 may be made flat, but better results areobtained if the same is slightly inclinedv downwardly and outwhat dishedcontour indicated at 28 in Fig. 4. The mound 4 enters the opening vI5and the lower face of the boss 3 is caused to assume a slight angle tothe horizontal, the portions defined by the arcs C being flexed slightlyoutwardly into closer proximity with the inner surface of the opening I5l The curvature of the arcs 'C gradually constricts the flow-betweenthe inlet and outlet chambers II and I2 of the valve as the mound 4further enters the opening I5. At the same time, the surface 25 isapproaching the inclined face I1 of the valve seat so that, while thereis a constriction of flow at this point, all objectionable eddying isavoided. One of the peculiar characteristics of the present diaphragmconstruction is that, as the annular face 25 of i the boss 3 approachesthe seat I1, it does not wardly on an angle-of about 5 tothe horizontal,

as shown in Fig. 3.

The diaphragm D is disposed between lthe valve body` I0 and a coverplate I8 secured to the body by a suitable number of machine screws I9.The cover I3 is dished to provide a pressure chamber 20 above thediaphragm I. Communication between the outlet opening I2 and thediaphragm pressure chamber20 is established by a passageway 2l in thevalve body I0, which communicates with a passageway 22 in the cover I8opening into the pressure chamber 20. It will be apparent that, as thepressure builds up on the outlet side I2 of the` valve 9, such pressurewill be communicated through the passageways 2| and 22 tothe pressurechamber 20 and cause downward flexing of the diaphragm I to cut oigagement.

simultaneously form a line-contact with all portions of the edge of saidseat, but on the other hand will first engage said edge at a -point '21proaching the seat I1 and upon engagement flow between the chambers IIand I2. In this'- pressure chamber 20 to be forced out of said chamberthrough the passageways 22 and 2| back into the outlet chamber I2, toeventually permit full opening of the valve.

The mound 4 has a diameter indicated by the letter B, which for a 11/2"valve is about 0.02 to 0.03 of an inch less than the diameter of theseat opening I5. The diameter of the lower face 25 of the boss 43 isindicated by the dimension A and preferably is slightly larger than theoutside diameter of the seat I1.

The novel manner in which the diaphragm D cooperates with the seat I1during closing of the valve is diagrammatically illustrated in Figures 3to 5, the clearances being exaggerated to Afacilitate illustration.Figure 3 showsthe body I of the diaphragm D substantially flat and whenin this condition the lower face 25 of the boss 3 lies in a horizontalplane parallel with that of the plane of the body 2. As the diaphragm Dis flexed downwardly due to the increasing @pressure in the chamber 20,the central portion of said diaphragm is flexed downwardly out of ahorizontal plane and is caused to assume the sometherewith graduallycuts off flow circumferentially through the opening I5. It is suchgradual constriction and cutting off of ow through the ,opening I5 (dueto the gradual axial and circumferential restriction of flow throughsaid opening l5), which results in the unusual quiet' v and the specicshape of the button 2 which' permit such coaction.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and '1, a modified diaphragm D', similar to thediaphragm D, exceptl that it is provided with a -central passageway 3l,is incorporated in a siphon breaker generally indicated by the numeral30. The siphon breaker 30 includes a hollow cylindrical mounting element32, and a body comprising a hood 33 and a cover plate 34. The diaphragmD' is clamped between the cover 34 and a horizontal ilange35 on the hood33, said hood and cover being secured together by a suitable number ofscrews 36. The mounting member 32 includes a cylindrical portion 31projecting upwardly into the hood 33 and terminating at its upper end inan inclined face 38 adapted to serve as an annular seat for a boss 3' onthe Vdiaphragm D'. The mounting member 32 includes an intermediatehexagonal flange 40 against which a lower reduced'end 4I of the hood 33is adapted to engage. The inner surface of the portion 4I snugly engagesthe outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 31 and the hood 33 ispreferably mounted on the mounting member 32 by sweating the portion 4Ionto the portion 31, although it will be understood that other means ofsecuring the hood to the portion 31 can be employed. The hood 33 has anenlarged portion 4,2 adjacent the reduced end 4I provided witha seriesof vent openings 43, the total area of which is at least as great as thearea of the opening surrounded by the annular seat 38. The cover 34 isdished as indicated at 44 to Drovide a pressure chamber above thediaphragm D'.

' acogen .Flg.' 8diagrammatically lllustratesthe'manner in` which thevacuumbreaker v30 shown in Figs'.'6 and 7. maybe installed inaf-'pipin'g system'associated with-adwelling'cr other ylriuildiiig, It'will be understood that'- the `rvacuu'in -'breaker -30 may bemountedjaeachplumbing ilxture,` but forfthe lxturesfin thebluildingisuch'as lwash basinsi5, toilet I, `and a'istationary tubI 52; Ashut oirvalve 53 vis rcolnnectedi`n`the service line 41.

In operation, so long as there is any pressure in the line 45, iluidwill ow through the passageway 3l in the diaphragm D' into the chamber44, and as the pressure in said chamber builds up, the diaphragm D willbe ilexed downwardly to engage the seat 33 (in the same vmannerdescribed in connection with the valve of Fig. 2v) to auto-- maticallyseal off the upper end of the mounting member 32 from the atmosphere.The siphon breaker 30 will remain closed so long as the pressure in theline 45 is above atmospheric pressure. However, if the pressure in theline 45 drops below atmospheric pressure for any reason, the iluid fromthe chamber 44 willow back through the passageway 3l in the diaphragm D'into the pipe line 45, through the vent openings 43 will act upon thelower side of the diaphragm D' and ilex it upwardly out-of contact withthe seat 38 and thus vent the pipe 45 to the atmosphere and prevent theformation of any vacuum therein which would tend to cause back-siphoningof liquid from the basin 50, toilet 5| and tub 52. In this manner, allpossible contaminationof the water in the line 45, supply pipe 41 andany main connected with said supply pipe is avoided, as is also anydamage that might result by water rushing back into the line 45 if thevacuum were not broken.

Fig9 illustrates a modied piping system including the siphon breaker 30in which said siphon breaker is not connected in the system at thehighest point thereof. Thus, the siphon breaker 30 is shown connecteddirectly in a supply line 54. A check valve 55, which may be ofconventional construction, is connected on. the building side of theSiphon breaker 30 and a conventional globe or gate s hut olf valve 56 isconnected in the line".i4 on the inlet side of the check valve 55. Waterfrom the supply pipe 54 is supplied to the various fixtures in thebuilding through a riser 51. In this system. if the presand atmosphericpressure eifective It will" also ,be apparent thatlvariou'schanges maybe madein certain details'of construction of the valve and siphonbreakerper'se, without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or thescope of the annexed claims. 1

I claim:

f '1.'An autdntic vacuumbreaker comprising: a substantially cylindricalhollow member" terminating at its upper end irian annular seatga hoodmountedfupon-said'cylindrical meinber a cover having' achambe'r' forfluid under pressure; anda flexible "diaphragn'iv betweensfald hood andcover, said diaphragm having a central circular `jboss* arranged to"engage said "annular seat; said v boss ,having a diameter slightlygreater than that 'of said annular seat, said boss havingza centralprotubera'nce ,arranged to]v rbe received` within the opening* of 'saidannular seat, said' protuberance including a portion of a diameter onlyslightly less than that of the opening of said annular seat, said hoodhaving vent openings for establishing comvmunication between theatmosphere and said seat opening when the pressure in said cylindricalhollow member is less than atmospheric pressure, said diaphragm having acentral passageway extending through said body, boss and protuberance,whereby fluid under pressure greater than y atmospheric pressure maypass through said diaphragm to the upper side thereof and into saidchamber in said cover to cause said diaphragm to i be flexed downwardlyinto engagement with said annular seat.

' phragm against said hood, said cover having a 2. An automatic vacuumbreaker comprising: a hollow cylindrical member terminating at 'itsupper end in an annular seat; a hood surrounding said cylindrical memberand having its lower end secured to said cylindrical member, said hoodincluding a cylindrical portion arranged above said lowerend, saidcylindrical portion having a series of vent openings extendingtherethrough and terminating at its upper end in a horizontal ilange; adiaphragm above said flange arranged to be flexed downwardly intoengagement with said annular seat; a cover overlying said diaphragm;

means securing said cover to said horizontal ange for clamping themarginal portion of said diachamber formed therein above said diaphragm,said diaphragm having a passageway opening into said chamber, said'passageway serving in the normal operation of said vacuum breaker as thesole means for introducing uid into and exhausting iiuid from saidchamber. v

3. An automatic siphon breaker comprising: a

. member having a lsubstantially cylindrical body sure should fail inthe supply pipe 54, the siphon breaker 30 will automatically open andconnect the supply line 54 with the'atmosphere in the same mannerdescribed in connection with Fig. 8. Moreover, the check valve 55 willvprevent the Water inI the riser 51 and other piping in the dwellingfrom ilowing back into supply line 54. The check valve 55 alone wouldprevent objectionable back-siphoning, but would not relieve any vacuumcondition that might be created in the service line 54. On the otherhand, the si phon breaker 30 avoids all possibility .of producing avacuum in the supply line 54 and the dangers incident thereto.

It will be understood that the diaphragm disclosed herein is not limitedto use in valves and portion, said body portion terminating at itsupper'end'in an annular seat; a hood surrounding said cylindrical' portionand including a lower end portion secured to said' cylindrical portionand a radial flange of relatively greater diameter than said lower endportion at its upper end portion extending substantially perpendicularto said cylindrical portion; a diaphragm engaging the upper side of saidradial flange; a dished cover member overlying said diaphragm, saiddiaphragm including a portion movable toward said annular seat andhaving a central opening through which fluid normally passes into thedished portion of said cover to eiect downward flexing of said diaphragmtoward said annular seat when the pressure in said cylindrical portionis greater than atmospheric, said hood being provided with vent openingsfor venting said cylindrical portion to the atmosphere when the uid-atmospheric to effect opening of said siphon breaker.

4. An automatic vacuum breaker comprising: a mounting member having ahollow cylindrical portion terminating at its upper end in an annularseat and having a radially extending peripheral iiange substantiallylmedially of its length; a hood surrounding said cylindrical portionhaving areduced lowerend portion engaging said ilange and sweated ontosaid cylindrical porportion above said reduced lower end portion, saidenlarged portion having a series of vent openings extending therethrougand terminating at its upper end in a horizon al flange; a flexiblediaphragm engaging said flange; a cover member overlying said diaphragm;means securing said cover to said horizontal :dangeior clamping themarginal portion of said diaphragm against said hood, said cover memberhaving a chamber formed therein above said diaphragm for operatingfluid, said diaphragm having an opening for lestablishing communicationbetween the interior o1' said hollow cylindrical portion and saidchamber, whereby uid from said hollow cylindrical portion can passthrough said opening'in said diaphragm and enter said chamber toautomatically eiect closing of said vacuum breaker.

DONTALD G. GRISWOLD.

